Wednesday 9/9/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

German Bundesliga Fr 11Sep 19:30

Mgladbach

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Hamburg

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		4/6	14/5	4	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT MGLADBACH	RECENT FORM
AWHLAW*ALHLAL​ Most recent​	1 - 0 3 - 1 2 - 2 1 - 1	HDAD*AD*ALHWAL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Hamburg have lost eight of their last nine Bundesliga away matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Borussia Monchengladbach are struggling this season with three straight losses after the summer departures of influential performers Max Kruse and Christoph Kramer. However, this looks a good opportunity to get maximum points with Hamburg often fighting relegation battles because of their awful away results.

RECOMMENDATION: Gladbach
1

 

[superbeets]

Spanish La Liga Fr 11Sep 19:30

Levante

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Seville

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SS2		4	13/5	3/4	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT LEVANTE	RECENT FORM
ALHDALHDHLAD​ Most recent​	1 - 2 0 - 0 1 - 0 1 - 0	HWAWAWND*ADHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: The two teams have scored one goal between them in La Liga this season

EXPERT VERDICT: Seville have failed to score in their first in two La Liga openers and could once again be frustrated by Levante. Unai Emery’s team have recruited high-profile strikers Fernando Llorente and Ciro Immobile but both players are yet to make an impact and the visitors may also have one eye on Tuesday’s Champions League opener.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1

 

[superbeets]

French Ligue 1 Fr 11Sep 19:30

Paris St-G.

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Bordeaux

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT2		2/9	5	12	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT PARIS ST-G.	RECENT FORM
NW*NWAWHWAWAW​ Most recent​	2 - 1 3 - 0 2 - 0 2 - 1	HLADHWADALHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Bordeaux have not conceded a first-half goal in their last five league games

EXPERT VERDICT: PSG have looked as good as ever when picking up a perfect 12 points from their opening four games and should have the beating of a Bordeaux side with indifferent form this term. Bordeaux have kept things tight early on but will likely be undone by the attacking flair of the Parisians.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw-PSG double result
1

 

[superbeets]

Scottish Premiership Fr 11Sep 19:45

Inverness CT

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Hearts

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BT1		17/10	23/10	31/20	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT INVERNESS CT	RECENT FORM
HLADHDALHLAD​ Most recent​	0 - 0 2 - 0 1 - 1 1 - 1	AWHWAWHWAD*AL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Hearts have scored 15 goals in six Premiership fixtures this term

EXPERT VERDICT: Hearts’ defeat to Hamilton last time out was their first loss in the new Premiership campaign and prior to that the Jambos had won five in a row. In stark contrast, hosts Inverness are struggling for form. Caley have yet to claim a win and haven’t scored at home this season.

RECOMMENDATION: Hearts
2


REFEREE: Steven McLean STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Championship Fr 11Sep 20:00

Reading

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Ipswich

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS5		11/10	23/10	5/2	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT READING	RECENT FORM
AD*HDADHDAWAW​ Most recent​	1 - 0 2 - 1 1 - 0 1 - 0	HWHWHWAWAD*HL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Reading have failed to score in each of their last six home matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Reading finished August with an impressive 3-1 win at Brentford but their form at the Madejski has been woeful. Ipswich suffered their first defeat at home to Brighton but they have found the net in each of their last nine away games and can claim another win.

RECOMMENDATION: Ipswich
2

 

[superbeets]

Championship Sa 12Sep 12:30

QPR

v

Nottm Forest

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS1		10/11	5/2	3	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT QPR	RECENT FORM
AWHDAWHWHLAW​ Most recent​	5 - 2 1 - 1 1 - 1 2 - 1	ALHLHWHDADHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: QPR have scored six goals in just two home games in the Championship

EXPERT VERDICT: QPR are improving rapidly after a slow start. Rangers have kept hold of Charlie Austin and have won three on the spin in the Championship, scoring eight goals in the process. Visitors Nottingham Forest have only won one match and have kept just one clean sheet in six league and cup outings.

RECOMMENDATION: QPR
3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB

National League
Mets @ Nationals
deGrom is 0-1, 7.36 in his last three starts; three of his last four went over.

Strasburg is 3-1, 3.00 in his last five starts; under is 6-3 in his last nine.

Mets won six of last seven games with Washington; over is 5-2-1 in last eight series games. NY won six of last nine games; over is 9-4 in their last thirteen. Nationals lost last two games, allowing 16 runs; over is 8-1-1 in last ten.

Brewers @ Marlins
Pena is making first MLB start; he appeared in 43 AAA games this season, starting only seven (2-2, 4.14). He's allowed two runs in three MLB IP.

Koehler is 0-1, 6.50 in his last eight starts (over 3-1 in his last four at home).

Brewers won four of last seven games with Miami; over is 6-2-1 in last nine. Marlins won six of last eight games overall. four of their last six went over total. Milwaukee won seven of last nine games overall- their last eight games all went over.

Pirates @ Reds
Happ is 4-0, 0.36 in his last four starts (under 5-1 in last six).

Sampson is 0-2, 11.57 in his last four starts (over 4-1 in last five).

Pittsburgh lost seven of last nine games; six of their last eight went over total. Pirates lost five of last eight games with Cincinnati; over is 6-3-1 in last ten series games. Reds are 5-8 in last 13 games (over 5-1 last six).

Cubs @ Cardinals
Lester is 1-2, 6.04 in his last four starts (over 4-2 in last six).

Martinez is 1-3, 6.04 in his last four starts (over 3-0-1).

Cardinals lost last three games (over 8-2-1 in last 11). Chicago won six of last games vs St Louis; six of their last eight games went over the total. Cubs won four of last five games with Cardinals; those five all went over.

Giants @ Diamondbacks
Heston is 0-4, 5.18 in his last five starts (under 3-1 last four).

Godley is 3-1, 3.74 in four starts this year (over 4-0).

Giants are 7-13 in last 20 games overall; under is 7-3-1 in their last 11 road games. SF won four of last five games with Arizona; road team won ten of last 12 series games-- eight of last ten stayed under. D'backs lost eight of last 11 games; four of their last six went over the total.

Rockies @ Padres
Rusin is 1-2, 9.00 in his last three starts (over 5-4 in last nine).

Shields is 2-1, 3.42 in his last four starts; his last seven all went over.

Rockies lost eight of last ten games with San Diego; four of last six went over total. Colorado lost three of last four games (over 4-3 in last seven). Padres lost six of last eight games; three of their last four stayed under.

Braves @ Phillies
Teheran is 1-0, 1.89 in his last three road starts (under 2-1-1 last four).

Buchanon lost his last two starts, allowing 18 runs in 5.2 IP (over is 5-0-1 in his last six starts).

Atlanta lost 13 of last 14 games; five of its last seven games went over. Braves lost five of last seven games with Philly; over is 6-4-1 in last 11 series games. Phillies lost seven of last nine games; five of last seven went over.

American League
Rays @ Tigers
Odorizzi is 0-2, 5.52 in his last five starts; six of his last nine went over.

Lobstein is 0-4, 8.53 in his last four starts (under 5-1 in last six).

Tigers won last three games with Tampa Bay (over 5-3-2 in last ten in series). Detroit won three of last four games overall; eight of last ten went over. Rays lost five of last six games; six of their last eight went over the total.

Orioles @ Bronx
Jimenez is 1-2, 6.67 in his last five starts (over 4-1).

Sabathia is 0-1, 3.80 in his last four starts (under 3-1).

Bronx won five of last six games with Baltimore (under 4-2); NY won eight of last 11 games; under is 5-3 in their last eight. Orioles lost nine of last twelve games; six of their last eight went over the total.

Blue Jays @ Red Sox
Hutchison is 3-1, 3.51 in his last four starts; five of his last seven went over.

Kelly is 5-0, 1.93 in his last five starts (over 6-1-1 in last eight).

Blue Jays lost four of last six games with Boston; over is 5-3-1 in last nine series games. Toronto won 10 of last 14 games (over 3-2 last five). Boston won eight of last 12 games; four of last six went over.

Indians @ White Sox
Tomlin is 4-0, 2.48 in his last four starts (over 3-0 in last three).

Samardzija is 1-6, 8.33 in his last seven starts (over 8-1 in last nine).

White Sox won five of their last six games; seven of its last ten went over the total. Chicago won five of last six with Cleveland; road team won eight of last nine series games- nine of last 12 stayed under. Indians are 9-4 in last 13 games; six of their last eight stayed under the total.

Astros @ A's
McHugh is 3-2, 1.54 in his last six starts (under 4-1-1).

Brooks is 0-2, 14.40 in his last three starts (over 3-1 in last four).

Astros are 4-7 in last 11 games; over is 6-2-1 in their last nine- they lost last five games with Oakland; over is 7-5 in last twelve. A's lost five of their last seven games, but won last two; over is 6-2-1 in their last nine.

Rangers @ Mariners
Perez is 1-2, 4.60 in his last five starts (last four stayed under).

Nuno is 0-2, 4.91 in his last four starts; last three went over.

Texas won three of last four games with Seattle; under is 4-1-1 in last six series games. Rangers won nine of last 12 games (under 8-3-1). Mariners won five of last seven games; eight of their last ten games went over.

Twins @ Royals
Pelfrey is 0-2, 7.64 in his last four starts (under 2-0-1 last three).

Medlen is 2-1, 6.88 in three starts this year (over 3-0).

Twins lost six of last nine games with Kansas City; under is 7-1-2 in last ten series games. Minnesota lost four of last six games; over is 4-3-2 in their last nine. Royals lost six of last nine games (over 5-2-1 last eight).

Interleague
Dodgers @ Angels
Latos is 0-2, 8.83 in his last four starts (over 4-1 in last five).

Richards is 3-4, 5.22 in his last nine starts (over 6-2 in last eight).

Dodgers won their last eight games with the Angels; over is 4-1 in last five in series. Dodgers won 11 of last 13 games (under 8-5). Halos lost three of last four games; over is 6-3-1 in their last ten.

Win-loss records this year for team with this starting pitcher:
NY-Wsh-- deGrom 17-9; Strasburg 10-8 (7-1 last 8)
Mil-Mia-- Pena 0-0; Koehler 11-15 (2-9 last 11)
Pitt-Cin-- Happ 12-14/5-1; Sampson 3-3
Chi-StL-- Lester 15-12; Martinez 19-6 (1-3 last four)
SF-Az-- Heston 14-12 (0-4 last 4); Godley 3-1
Col-SD-- Rusin 5-11; Shields 13-16 (2-7 last 9)
Atl-Phil-- Teheran 15-13; Buchanon 2-8

TB-Det-- Odorizzi 10-13 (0-4 last 4); Lobstein 3-6 (0-4 last 4)
Balt-NY-- Jimenez 14-13; Sabathia 11-13
Tor-Bos-- Hutchison 18-8 (7-1 last 8); Kelly 12-11 (7-0 last 7)
Clev-Chi-- Tomlin 3-1; Samardzija 12-16 (1-6 last 7)
Hst-A's-- McHugh 17-10; Brooks 2-3
Tex-Sea-- Perez 5-4; Nuno 2-3
Min-KC-- Pelfrey 13-13; Medlen 2-1

LA-LA-- Latos 8-13/2-3; Richards 15-11

Times this starting pitcher allowed a run in first inning:
NY-Wsh-- deGrom 7-26; Strasburg 5-18
Mil-Mia-- Pena 0-0; Koehler 5-26
Pitt-Cin-- Happ 9-26; Sampson 3-6
Chi-StL-- Lester 7-28; Martinez 6-25
SF-Az-- Heston 5-26 (4 of last 6); Godley 1-4
Col-SD-- Rusin 5-16; Shields 8-29
Atl-Phil-- Teheran 10-28; Buchanon 2-10

TB-Det-- Odorizzi 5-23; Lobstein 5-9
Balt-NY-- Jimenez 7-27; Sabathia 8-24
Tor-Bos-- Hutchison 11-26; Kelly 10-23
Clev-Chi-- Tomlin 1-4; Samardzija 13-28
Hst-A's-- McHugh 8-27; Brooks 2-5
Tex-Sea-- Perez 1-9; Nuno 3-5
Min-KC-- Pelfrey 4-26; Medlen 2-3

LA-LA-- Latos 8-21; Richards 5-26

Umpires
Atl--Phil-- Six of last eight Woodring games went over.
NY-Wsh-- Six of last nine Estabrook games went over.
Mil-Mia-- Six of last seven Davidson games went over.
Pitt-Cin-- Under is 5-2-1 in last eight BWelke games.
Chi-StL-- Three of last four Carapazza games stayed under.
SF-Az-- Five of last six Conroy games stayed under total.
Col-SD-- Five of last seven Foster games stayed under.

TB-Det-- Six of last nine Timmons games stayed under.
Blt-NY-- Under is 10-4 in last fourteen Emmel games.
Tor-Bos-- Five of last seven Schneider games went over.
Cle-Chi-- Six of last seven Cooper games went over total.
Min-KC-- Under is 11-4-1 in last sixteen Gibson games.
Hst-A's-- Five of last six Ripperger games went over total.
Tex-Sea-- Four of last five Bellino games went over.

LA-LA-- Seven of last nine Holbrook games went over.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sparks (14-18) at Dream (13-18)

Date: September 09, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Candace Parker seems to be finding her form at the right time and the Los Angeles Sparks are rolling heading into yet another postseason trip.

They'll try to match their longest winning streak of the season Wednesday night when they visit the Atlanta Dream.

Los Angeles (14-18) has enjoyed a strong turnaround in the second half of the season coinciding with Candace Parker's return after she missed the club's first 16 games to rest. The Sparks have won 11 of 15 and three in a row, securing their 15th playoff berth in 17 years with Sunday's 92-73 victory over Tulsa.

They shot 60.7 percent and Parker scored a season-high 33 on 12-of-17 shooting with eight rebounds and five assists. She's averaging 22.4 points over her last eight games compared to 16.4 in her first eight, and she's averaging a double-double for the second time in her career with 10.1 rebounds.

Nneka Ogwumike has also been a potent second option for Los Angeles, totaling 50 points on 17-of-22 shooting with 19 rebounds over her last two games. She had missed the previous six games due to concussion-like symptoms.

The Sparks have scored 90-plus three times in their last six, but Parker still has her sights set on improvement.

"I think we can play better," said Parker, who hit a career-high five 3-pointers against the Shock. "Everyone is feeling good but I still think that there is better basketball and our best basketball is still ahead of us."

Atlanta (13-18) won for the fourth time in six games with Sunday's 73-67 victory over Washington. Angel McCoughtry's 18 points led a balanced offensive effort - Tiffany Hayes added 17 points and Sancho Lyttle had 16 - yet the Dream are on the verge of being eliminated from postseason contention. They haven't missed the playoffs since their inaugural 2008 season.

They won the first meeting 76-72 in Los Angeles on July 16, going ahead on Aneika Henry's basket with 29 seconds left. Henry scored a career-high 16 off the bench to complement McCoughtry's 22 points.

Parker didn't play for the Sparks, who were led by Jantel Lavender's 20 points and 11 rebounds.

The Dream have won three of four at home and five straight there in the series, last losing 91-87 on Aug. 23, 2009. Los Angeles is 5-2 on the road after opening 0-8.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sun (14-18) at Liberty (22-9)

Date: September 09, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Having clinched the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed for the first time in 13 years, the New York Liberty will chase another milestone Wednesday night.

The Liberty look to establish a single-season record for wins by extending their dominance over the eliminated Connecticut Sun.

New York (22-9) lost out on tiebreakers in its previous two challenges for the East's top seed in 2004 and 2010, but had more cushion to work with before clinching that with a 75-71 victory at West-leading Minnesota on Sunday.

"It was important for us to clinch the Eastern Conference home-court advantage," coach Bill Laimbeer said. "That was goal No. 1."

Tina Charles had 18 points and 14 rebounds in her team's fourth victory in five games, and helped it bounce back from an 82-60 home drubbing to Chicago on Thursday.

Charles will next try to push New York past the 2010 squad for its best record in franchise history. That team finished 22-12 and tied with Washington atop the East.

A matchup with Connecticut (14-18) could aid the Liberty. New York has won five straight in the series - including three this season - and the last three home meetings.

The Liberty won 80-66 in the most recent matchup Aug. 29 at Mohegan Sun Arena with Epiphanny Prince leading the way with 18 points.

Charles had 15 after scoring a combined 53 in the first two meetings. She had a season-high 31 points in a 90-78 victory at Connecticut on Aug. 14.

The Sun will miss the playoffs in three straight seasons for the first time but aren't going quietly, having gone 2-1 on a season-high four-game trip. They beat previously eliminated San Antonio 73-72 on Friday on Kelsey Bone's layup with 1.8 seconds left.

Bone, who finished with 17 points, is averaging 20.3 on 50.0 percent shooting in the last four games. She had 22 points on 10-of-18 shooting against New York on Aug. 29 and has totaled 39 in the past two meetings.

Connecticut has won back-to-back games just once since its 7-1 start, from Aug. 4-7.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

See spot. See spot bet: This week's best spot bet opportunities
By BEN BURNS

Spot bets are classic handicapping practices that have proven profitable no matter what sport you're betting. Whether it's a team looking past this week's opponent, one coming off a hard-fought victory, or a rough patch of schedule, bettors can find value picking their spots. Ben Burns points out his favorites:

Letdown spot

Lost in the big-name upsets in Week 1 of the college football schedule was Florida International’s 15-14 stunner over state rival Central Florida as a two-touchdown road underdog Thursday. The Golden Panthers got a blocked field goal from Treyvon Williams to hold off the Knights with 30 seconds remaining in the game, picking up a win in their season opener for the first time in four years.

That upset has FIU on letdown watch in Week 2, once again playing on the road but having to hit the highway for a long trek to Bloomington to face the Indiana Hoosiers. Oddsmakers opened the Golden Panthers as 7.5-point underdogs, playing a Hoosiers program that got a big scare from FCS Southern Illinois in Week 1. Indiana is already vowing to improve and FIU may be punching bag for their Big Ten opponents this Saturday.

Lookahead spot

The Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees are giving baseball fans a race to remember in the American League East, with Toronto holding a half game lead over the Pinstripes as of Tuesday. The Blue Jays are in Fenway taking on the Red Sox, who have relished the role of spoiler since their season went down the tubes. Boston won the series opener 11-4 Monday.

The Blue Jays could get caught looking ahead to a crucial series in the Bronx starting Thursday when they wrap up a three-game set with the BoSox Wednesday night. Toronto goes with Drew Hutchison for Wednesday’s game, saving the top starters for the Yankees. Hutchinson has been horrific on the road with a 9.00 ERA in 11 starts away from the Rogers Centre this season.

Schedule spot

The CFL’s Labor Day Classic pitted rivals Hamilton and Toronto against each other Monday, with the T-Cats smashing the Argos 42-12. Toronto doesn’t have to wait long to get revenge for that one-sided beating, with only four days off before facing Hamilton at home Friday night. That’s not a lot of time to lick wounds and make adjustments for the shell-shocked Argonauts.

The Ti-Cats held a 27-1 halftime lead Monday and took over first place in the East Division with the victory. Hamilton is crushing teams with its last four victories coming by 30, 30, 29 and 30 points and improved to 8-2 ATS with the Labor Day Classic win. The Ti-Cats should have plenty of momentum with the CFL schedule not giving them any time to cool off.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cubs (80-57) at Cardinals (87-51)

Game: 3
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: September 09, 2015 1:45 PM EDT

The Chicago Cubs had no trouble scoring runs to secure a series win in St. Louis, and they could have a key bat back as they try for the sweep.

Kyle Schwarber may return to the starting lineup from a six-game absence Wednesday as the streaking Cubs try to put up big numbers for Jon Lester in a second straight start.

Schwarber has been sidelined with a sore rib cage, but Chicago (80-57) has been alright without him, winning five straight with 7.8 runs per game. It got to 80 wins for the first time since 2009 and a season-best 23 games over .500 for just the second time since 1989.

In Tuesday's 8-5 win, the team homered at least once in a season-high ninth straight game for the second time in its last 22. The Cubs' 42 homers in that time lead baseball after ranking 13th through Aug. 15.

Anthony Rizzo hit one for the third time in six games, Austin Jackson went 2 for 5 to bump his average to .404 in his last 16 contests, and Starlin Castro had his third straight two-hit game to give him a .478 mark in his last eight as he deals with not playing every day.

"Starlin's been so professional," manager Joe Maddon said. "I think he's rested right now, too. He looks fresh out there."

They haven't swept the Cardinals (87-51) since taking three in St. Louis in September 2010, going 14-32 at Busch Stadium since.

St. Louis has dropped three straight and five of six to allow Pittsburgh within 4 1/2 of the NL Central lead. Chicago can trim its division deficit to 5 1/2 games or less for the first time since June 1.

The Cardinals dropped four straight for the only time June 30-July 3, which also came at home. The best pitching staff in baseball has allowed 24 runs with a .324 opponent average in the three straight losses.

Since the All-Star break, Lester (9-10, 3.59 ERA) has been more fortunate with a 5.62 run support average to help him to a 5-2 record with a 3.59 ERA. Much of that support came in Friday's 14-5 win over Arizona as the left-hander gave up two runs and five hits and wasn't needed to go beyond five innings.

Lester has gotten gradually better in his three starts against the Cardinals this season, going 1-2 with a 1.96 ERA. He's won his two career starts at Busch Stadium with a 1.23 mark, which includes a 2013 World Series win while with Boston.

Jason Heyward is 8 for 18 against Lester, but Matt Carpenter and Yadier Molina are 3 for 15.

Lester is up against Carlos Martinez, who has fallen off after a great start to his first full season in the rotation.

Martinez (13-7, 3.04) has given up at least three runs in seven straight starts with a 2-3 record and 5.13 ERA after allowing three in three of his first 18 starts while going 11-3 with a 2.36 mark. His 159 2-3 innings pitched are 51 2-3 more than his previous professional high in 2013. Some rest in the final weeks of the season could be in order for the right-hander.

"We know giving him extra rest anytime we can is the right thing to do," manager Mike Matheny said. "If the results don't look right in the back end, so be it. That's what we have to do to keep these guys healthy and hopefully strong."

Martinez is 1-0 with a 7.45 ERA in two starts this season against the Cubs with both coming at home. Castro is 1 for 11 with five strikeouts against him.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mets (77-61) at Nationals (71-67)

Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: September 09, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The NL East-leading New York Mets continue allaying any fears of another epic late-season collapse.

After rallying to build a six-game division lead over Washington, the Mets go for their longest winning streak against the Nationals in 24 years Wednesday night.

Although New York (77-61) appears comfortably in front of Washington (71-67) with 24 games left in the regular season, the position is eerily similar to the 7 1/2-game lead the Mets had with 17 to go in 2007 before they missed the playoffs on the final day.

The club again fell apart a year later by squandering a 3 1/2-game advantage.

The Mets, who have won 13 of 18, continued to silence any talk of another letdown by erasing a six-run deficit in Tuesday's 8-7 win at Washington.

"We're playing like we don't have anything to lose, and that's what we need to do," said Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who had a go-ahead, pinch-hit homer in the eighth after the Mets scored six in the seventh. "I'm just going to enjoy the ride."

The Mets are trying to win a sixth straight matchup with the Nationals franchise for the first time since taking nine in a row against the then-Montreal Expos in 1991.

Jacob deGrom (12-7, 2.40 ERA) takes the ball after going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA over his last three starts. The right-hander battled through six innings Friday, allowing three runs and a season-high nine hits in six innings of a 6-5 loss in 11 at Miami.

"I feel like I threw the ball a little better than it showed," deGrom said. "I kept the ball down pretty good. I got a lot of groundballs. Some of them just went through the infield."

DeGrom is 4-0 with a 2.82 ERA over his last seven road outings, allowing two runs or fewer in five of them. That includes his only victory in five career starts against the Nationals. He gave up a two-run homer to Wilson Ramos while striking out eight in six innings of a 7-2 win at Washington on July 21.

DeGrom yielded two runs and fanned seven in six innings while not getting a decision in a 3-2 home victory against the Nationals on Aug. 1.

Washington entered this series on a five-game winning streak only to have the bullpen surrender 10 runs over 6 1-3 innings while being charged with both losses.

"This season is far from over," said closer Jonathan Papelbon, who gave up Nieuwenhuis' homer and took the loss Tuesday. "Everybody's got to pick up everybody in every count, in every situation. There's nothing else we can do. We've got to keep grinding, go out and win another ballgame (Wednesday)."

Stephen Strasburg (8-6, 4.35) returns to the rotation after tightness in his back forced him to exit after four innings Aug. 30. He gave up four runs and seven hits, including two homers, in a 7-4 win over the Marlins.

Strasburg, who won't be on a pitch count, was 3-1 with a 1.73 ERA over his four previous starts after returning from a left oblique strain that landed him on the disabled for over a month.

He has a 4.22 ERA while splitting two starts against the Mets this year. He surrendered six runs - three earned - in 5 1-3 innings of a 6-3 home loss April 9.

Bryce Harper is hitless in eight at-bats in this series, but Yunel Escobar is 5 for 9 with three runs to give him a .409 average over the past five meetings with New York. Harper is batting .214 with one homer in 15 season matchups.

They've both had success against deGrom, combining to go 10 for 23.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves (55-84) at Phillies (54-85)

Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: September 09, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

After avoiding their worst losing streak in nearly four decades this week, the Atlanta Braves now turn their attention to a pair of other lengthy droughts.

The Braves will go for their first series win in over three weeks and first on the road in two months Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Atlanta (55-84) snapped a 12-game losing streak with a 7-2 win in Monday's series opener, falling a game shy of tying the franchise's worst skid since 1976. The Braves, who have dropped 20 of their last 22, were denied their first back-to-back wins since early August with a 5-0 loss in the middle game Tuesday.

The Braves still have a shot at their first series victory since taking two of three against Arizona from Aug. 14-16, and they haven't won a road series since winning two of three in Milwaukee from July 6-8.

The club's winningest pitcher will take the mound looking to end those slides. Julio Teheran was the only Atlanta pitcher to notch a win from Aug. 17-Sept. 6 and has earned two of the team's four victories since Aug. 9.

Teheran (9-7, 4.51 ERA) holds the only winning record on Atlanta's staff and has six quality starts over his last seven. He is 3-1 during that stretch with a 3.95 ERA that's inflated by the eight runs he gave up in a 20-6 loss to the New York Yankees on Aug. 30. Teheran has given up 30 hits and 11 runs over 39 innings in the other six.

The right-hander has been especially good against the Phillies this year, using a 1.29 ERA to pick up a pair of wins. Teheran is 5-3 with a 2.54 ERA in nine career starts against the Phillies.

He held Washington to five hits and one run in six innings during a 5-2 loss Friday.

"I feel really good," Teheran told MLB's official website. "I was just trying to make pitches and trying to show my team that I wanted to stay in there."

Philadelphia (54-85) was the last road team Atlanta beat before dropping 13 straight from Aug. 11-Sept. 6, a skid which also ended Monday. The Phillies have held their spot at the bottom of the NL East during Atlanta's plummet thanks to 11 losses in 15 games.

They'll counter Teheran with David Buchanan, who will make his first start in the majors since Aug. 11.

After finishing with a 2.62 ERA in his final six starts of 2014, Buchanan (2-7, 9.00) has drifted back-and-forth from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and the Phillies in his second big-league season. He received his third promotion this week, becoming the sixth pitcher in Philadelphia's rotation in an attempt to manage the workload of four rookies ahead of him.

The right-hander had two of his better outings this season against the Braves, holding them to 10 hits and six runs over 14 innings.

Buchanan, though, was most recently sent down to the minors after imploding in a 13-1 loss against Arizona on Aug. 11. The Diamondbacks pounded him for career highs in hits (11) and runs (11) in a career-low 1 2-3 innings.

"Once the game started the ball was elevated, and that's when you get hurt," he said.

Phillies slugger Ryan Howard went 0 for 4 on Tuesday to extend his hitless streak to 25 at-bats, while Cesar Hernandez singled and doubled to extend his hit streak to nine.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Orioles (66-72) at Yankees (77-60)

Game: 3
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: September 09, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

It appeared CC Sabathia could be done for the season after landing on the disabled list last month with a knee injury. Given his struggles, that may not have seemed like much of a blow to the New York Yankees

Another injury to a starting pitcher, though, makes his quick return very welcome.

Sabathia will try to prevent the Yankees from losing a home series to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night in his first appearance in over two weeks.

Hampered by his arthritic right knee the past few seasons and coming off surgery last year, Sabathia has been unable to recapture the form that made him one of the game's best pitchers for more than a decade.

He posted double-digit wins each of his first 13 seasons before going 3-4 with a 5.28 ERA in eight starts in 2014. This year has brought more of the same, with the big left-hander 4-9 with a 5.27 ERA in 24 starts.

Sabathia had the knee drained twice and recently received a pain-killing shot, but he was placed on the DL Aug. 24, one day after lasting 2 2-3 innings against Cleveland.

He tested his knee while throwing about 60 pitches Friday and reported feeling normal. Sabathia, who will pitch with a brace, indicated he's ready to return to the mound without any concerns.

"I've been testing it pretty good in the bullpens," he said. "Even playing catch on the side, I was letting it go. I was confident that I wouldn't feel anything and I would be ready to go."

New York's rotation took a hit Monday with the news that 14-game winner Nathan Eovaldi will miss the rest of the regular season with elbow inflammation.

Returning against the Orioles makes sense for Sabathia, who is 18-7 with a 3.48 ERA in 32 matchups. However, he's 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two this season.

Adam Jones is batting .311 with four homers, four doubles and a triple in 61 at-bats against Sabathia, but he sat out Tuesday's 2-1 win with a sore right shoulder.

'Hopefully, he'll be back tomorrow,' manager Buck Showalter said.

Alex Rodriguez accounted for all of the Yankees offense with his 30th home run, reaching that total for the 15th season to tie Hank Aaron's major league record. Rodriguez has hit six of those home runs this season against the Orioles.

New York (77-60) dropped to 8-3 in its last 11 and fell 1 1/2 games behind East-leading Toronto.

"We just didn't come up with the big hit tonight,' manager Joe Girardi said.

Ryan Flaherty homered and Chris Davis snapped a tie in the ninth with his major league-leading 41st, lifting Baltimore (66-72) to its fourth win in 19 games.

'I thought we did a good job hanging in there,' said Davis, who is 10 for 25 with six home runs and 10 RBIs in seven games this month.

Ubaldo Jimenez (10-9, 4.24) looks to reverse some miserable results against the Yankees. He is 3-5 with a 6.60 ERA in nine matchups, splitting four decisions with a 6.75 ERA in five since joining the Orioles in 2014.

The right-hander notched his first win in five starts Friday at Toronto, working around a career high-tying six walks to allow two runs over 5 2-3 innings in a 10-2 victory. However, he failed to complete six innings for the fifth straight start.

Jacoby Ellsbury is 5 for 7 with a homer the last two seasons against Jimenez while Carlos Beltran is 7 for 20 with two home runs and two doubles lifetime in the matchup.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rays (67-71) at Tigers (64-74)

Game: 3
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: September 09, 2015 7:08 PM EDT

Pitching continues to fail the Tampa Bay Rays when they need it most, and Jake Odorizzi has contributed to that problem for longer than the club's six-game slide.

Another loss Wednesday night in Detroit would complete a three-game sweep, but the Tigers' starter has been even less effective than Odorizzi.

Detroit (64-74) won 8-7 Tuesday in 13 innings to send the Rays (67-71) to their third straight loss and fifth in six games. Tampa Bay's starting staff, which ranks third in the AL with a 3.68 ERA, has a 6.54 mark in the last six to drop the club 6 1/2 games back of Texas for the second wild card.

The poor pitching has wasted Evan Longoria's .409 average with four home runs and nine RBIs in those games, while J.P. Arencibia is at .440 in his last eight.

Detroit's arms have actually been worse with a 6.97 team ERA in 15 games, which helps explain why it won consecutive games for the only time over a 5-13 span.

The Tigers are now seeking a third straight home win for the first time since May 20-22, as well as a 4-2 homestand to give them their first stay over .500 since going 4-3 against the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland and Cincinnati from June 9-16.

Victor Martinez was out of the lineup for a second straight game with flu-like symptoms, but Rajai Davis homered for the third time in the series and J.D. Martinez also connected for his 36th. Dating to 1969, only Miguel Cabrera (four times), Cecil Fielder (twice), Dean Palmer, Darrell Evans and Martinez have surpassed 35 homers for the Tigers.

It was Davis who was the center of attention with the homer, a walk-off sacrifice fly, three strikeouts, a dropped routine fly ball with the bases loaded and being a part of four replay reviews.

"Everything is just blurry right now," Davis said. "I can't say that I've ever been a part of anything like that before, or even seen anything like that before."

Odorizzi (6-8, 3.35 ERA) hasn't won since July, going 0-2 with a 4.71 ERA in his last seven starts. The losses have come in his last two, and he gave up five runs and three hits - all home runs - with two walks in 6 2-3 innings of Friday's 5-2 defeat at the New York Yankees.

"Three hits, five runners, and they all scored," Odorizzi told MLB's official website. "That was the storyline. Just an odd night, but we'll move on."

That last victory July 28 came at home against Detroit as Odorizzi surrendered a run and six hits with eight strikeouts in six innings to get to 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in two career starts in the series. J.D. Martinez is 3 for 6 against him, but Alex Aliva is 0 for 5 with three strikeouts.

Kyle Lobstein returned from the 60-day disabled list in Friday's 8-1 home loss to Cleveland and gave up six runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings for his fourth loss in as many starts. Lobstein (3-6, 5.02) hadn't pitched since May 23 due to left shoulder soreness and has an 8.53 ERA and .358 opponent batting average on the losing streak.

"Not very good," Lobstein said. "I fell behind too many hitters and gave them too many pitches to hit behind in the count."

The last four starts have all come at home, dropping the left-hander to 2-7 with a 5.37 ERA in 11 career starts at Comerica Park.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pirates (82-55) at Reds (57-80)

Game: 3
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: September 09, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

J.A. Happ has gotten plenty of opportunities for a fresh start while pitching for five teams in as many years, but being thrown into the middle of a playoff race has seemed to bring out his best.

He'll look to win his fifth straight outing for the Pittsburgh Pirates when he faces the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park.

Happ (4-1, 1.57 ERA) has experienced mild success since coming up with Philadelphia in 2007 and has battled multiple injuries while also pitching for Houston, Toronto and Seattle after the Phillies dealt him in 2010.

The left-hander hasn't posted an ERA below 4.22 since that year and went 4-6 with a 4.64 ERA with the Mariners this season before being sent to the Pirates (82-55) at the trade deadline.

Happ gave up four runs in a loss to the Chicago Cubs in his Pittsburgh debut Aug. 4, but he's posted a 0.60 ERA in five outings since. His most impressive performance came Friday against MLB-best St. Louis, when he allowed three hits and struck out eight in seven scoreless innings of a 9-3 win.

'Sometimes a change of scenery can give a guy a shot in the arm,' manager Clint Hurdle said. 'You don't want to be a weak link and you re-acquire your focus knowing you're being counted on. He's showed up well.'

Happ had a rough outing the last time he pitched in Cincinnati on June 21, 2014, allowing eight runs and walking four in four innings while with Toronto.

Brandon Phillips is 7 for 14 with three homers and two doubles off Happ, and Joey Votto is 7 for 16 with three doubles.

Phillips had two hits Tuesday, but Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run homer, Jung Ho Kang had a solo shot and Starling Marte went 3 for 5 as the Pirates won 7-3.

Pittsburgh, which had lost six of eight, maintained its two-game lead over the Cubs for the NL's first wild card and pulled within 4 1/2 of the Cardinals in the Central.

'It is tangible evidence of us being in a better place,' Hurdle said after the Pirates clinched a third straight winning season. 'We had 20 consecutive losing seasons as an organization, and I was here for two of them. We talked about creating a new sense and direction of history. That's part of it.'

The last-place Reds (57-80) dropped to 10-5 against the Pirates this season and will look to bounce back behind rookie Keyvius Sampson (2-3, 6.68), who is in the midst of a major slump.

Sampson made his major league debut in relief against Pittsburgh on July 30, then made his first career start Aug. 2 against the Pirates and allowed three runs in five innings of a 3-0 loss.

The right-hander hasn't gotten past the fourth in any of his last four outings, though, going 0-2 with a 10.93 ERA while walking nine in 14 innings.

'It's just been a struggle for him to get ahead and stay ahead in the count,' manager Bryan Price said. 'That makes a big difference. When he was going good, he was clustering pitches in the zone. Now he's spraying them all around. That usually doesn't lead to success.'

Sampson has one walk and eight strikeouts in six innings against the Pirates and has fanned Pedro Alvarez both times he's faced him.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Brewers (61-77) at Marlins (58-81)

Game: 3
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: September 09, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Though the status of two key contributors remains uncertain, the Miami Marlins seem poised to put a positive finish on a disappointing season.

The Marlins can win a third consecutive series Wednesday night against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.

While Miami (58-81) still isn't sure if slugger Giancarlo Stanton will return from a wrist injury suffered in late June, shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria (hamstring) believes he can play again this season but certainly will miss a sixth consecutive contest Wednesday.

Already with career highs of five home runs and 48 RBIs, Hechavarria has been one of the few bright spots for the underachieving Marlins.

"Right now, I'm around 70 percent," he told MLB's official website. "I think I'll be back before the season ends. But to rush back from a hamstring isn't easy."

Miami, though, won't worry about who is not on the field.

Instead, it will try to win for the seventh time in nine games after evening this three-game set with a 6-4 win Tuesday. J.T. Realmuto hit two homers, including an inside-the-parker, as the Marlins handed Milwaukee (61-77) its second loss in three games after winning six in a row.

"That's a thing of beauty," Marlins manager Dan Jennings said of Realmuto's accomplishment. "Very few catchers possess that type of speed and athleticism to be able to run off an inside-the-parker.

"A big night for him."

It was the first time since May 31, 1980, that a catcher - Montreal's Gary Carter - had a multihomer game that included an inside-the-parker.

Realmuto is batting .429 in his last seven games and could be back behind the plate to catch Tom Koehler (8-13, 4.08).

The right-hander is 0-7 with a 6.31 ERA in his last eight starts, but the Marlins snapped a seven-game skid with him on the mound in Friday's 6-5, 11-inning win over the New York Mets. For a second straight home start, Koehler allowed two runs in six innings but walked a season-high five after walking four in his previous outing at Marlins Mark.

Perhaps the right-hander's worst start during his winless stretch came Aug .19 when he gave up seven runs, nine hits and walked four in 4 1-3 innings of an 8-7 loss at Milwaukee. Khris Davis belted a two-run homer and a three-run shot off Koehler in that contest and is batting .350 in five career games at Marlins Park.

Scooter Gennett, who is 3 for 7 with a triple against Koehler, is batting .379 in his last 19 games.

Milwaukee's Ariel Pena (1-0, 6.00 ERA) makes his first career start after he earned the win despite allowing two runs in three innings of Saturday's 7-3 victory at Cincinnati in his major league debut. The right-hander, who is replacing the ineffective Matt Garza, doesn't appear to be on a specific pitch count.

"We're going to try to win the game, so however that works (in terms of pitch count), it works," manager Craig Counsell said. "We're trying to be really flexible here. I think that's the best way to do it when you have some options now."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jays (79-59) at Red Sox (65-73)

Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: September 09, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The Toronto Blue Jays have gotten Drew Hutchison off the hook for a poor outing plenty of times this season, and that's especially been the case when he's faced the Boston Red Sox.

The right-hander looks to take most of the pressure off his offense this time around as the first-place Blue Jays try to win two of three at Fenway Park on Wednesday night.

Hutchison (13-3, 5.07 ERA) has an 8.14 run-support average that is nearly a full run higher than any other pitcher in baseball. Toronto (79-59) has won five times when he's allowed at least six runs, and if his ERA doesn't drop much more before the season ends, Hutchison would become the first pitcher since James Shields in 2010 to win at least 13 games with an ERA above 5.00.

He had a 2.45 ERA while winning his previous four starts, though, before allowing six runs and nine hits - three homers - in five-plus innings of Friday's 10-2 loss to Baltimore. The two runs of support Hutchison received marked the fewest in nine starts since July 3 when he didn't get any for the only time in his 26 outings.

Toronto has won each Hutchison's three starts against Boston this season despite his 11.91 ERA. Mookie Betts and Pablo Sandoval each are 5 for 7 with a homer and two doubles off him in 2015, while David Ortiz (4 for 7) and Xander Bogaerts (3 of 6) also have had success in their matchups.

The Blue Jays didn't get much going until the 10th on Tuesday, when Josh Donaldson led off with a triple and Troy Tulowitzki drove in the go-ahead run in a four-run inning to give them a 5-1 win over the Red Sox (65-73).

Toronto, 29-8 since July 29, moved 1 1/2 games ahead of New York atop the AL East after the Yankees fell 2-1 to the Orioles.

'We tried to just navigate through their lineup the best that we could, give ourselves the best opportunity to get through that inning,' Boston's interim manager Torey Lovullo said of the 10th. 'Obviously one of the best players in the American League comes up with a leadoff triple, you're just trying to preserve that run the best that you can.'

Boston had its four-game winning streak snapped despite Dustin Pedroia doubling in his first game since July 22 because of a hamstring injury. Betts is hitting .386 during a 14-game hitting streak after going 1 for 4.

The Red Sox now try to bounce back behind Joe Kelly (9-6, 4.84), who has won his last seven starts while posting a 2.72 ERA. He's allowed two or fewer runs in the past six after pitching six strong innings in Friday's 7-5 victory over Philadelphia.

'Something that I learned is that you can't just keep pounding fastballs, especially in this division with the hitters,' Kelly said. 'Like I said, you've got to keep all the hitters off-speed throughout the entire game.'

The right-hander's three starts against the Blue Jays all came before he figured that out. Kelly went 0-1 with a 7.64 ERA in those outings while walking 12 in 17 2-3 innings.

Donaldson, hitting .421 with two homers, two triples and four doubles over his last 10, is 5 for 9 against Kelly this season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Twins (71-67) at Royals (83-55)

Game: 3
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: September 09, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The Kansas City Royals never seemed too concerned during a rare losing stretch.

With that in the past, they can focus on finishing their second losing homestand on a positive note Wednesday night against the Minnesota Twins.

Kansas City (83-55) was outscored 31-9 while dropping four in a row for the third time this season. Though the Royals didn't completely break out, they scored all their runs in the first and got seven strong innings from Edinson Volquez in Tuesday's 4-2 victory.

Alex Gordon had three hits and Eric Hosmer delivered a three-run double to help the AL leaders improve to 3-5 on their nine-game stay.

"It's big, especially the way the last four games have gone," said Hosmer, who is batting .343 in his last 10 contests.

Though the Royals would like to produce better at the plate in these final few weeks before the postseason, Volquez's performance could provide a needed boost for a rotation that had an 8.57 ERA over the previous four games.

Those problems began Friday when Kris Medlen (3-1, 4.88 ERA) yielded seven runs and 11 hits in 5 2-3 innings of a 12-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

'I had a big issue with my curveball, getting that down,' the right-hander said. 'Just a frustrating day overall.'

In the mix with Danny Duffy for the No. 4 spot in Kansas City's postseason rotation, Medlen isn't too discouraged despite falling to 2-1 and having his ERA rise to 6.88 as a starter.

"I think you take every start with negatives and positives," Medlen told MLB's official website. "It's baseball. It's a frustrating game, but you can't get down."

Medlin's only other appearance against the Twins (71-67) came in 2010.

In pursuit of the AL's second wild card, Minnesota has dropped four of six after winning 10 of 12. Joe Mauer had two hits with an RBI as the Twins fell to 2-3 on a nine-game trip.

Aaron Hicks also had two hits and has hit safely in all five games since coming off the disabled list with a hamstring issue.

Mike Pelfrey is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts at Kansas City this season, but 0-2 with a 10.22 ERA in his last three overall. The right-hander gave up seven runs and eight hits in four innings of Friday's 8-0 loss at Houston.

"I feel good,' Pelfrey said. 'I'm healthy. The results just haven't been there. I'm going to keep plugging away and keep going and hopefully, it will turn around soon.'

Manager Paul Molitor had some advice for Pelfrey (6-9, 4.17).

'I think he has to be more effective with the fastball in terms of where he's putting it, backing them off here and there, whatever he needs to do,' Molitor said. 'But, there are just a lot of aggressive swings against the fastball.'

Lorenzo Cain is 6 for 12 with two doubles against Pelfrey while Hosmer is 4 for 9.

It's uncertain if Minnesota rookie slugger Miguel Sano will miss a second straight game with a nagging hamstring injury. He has one hit, walked twice and struck out 11 times in his last 17 plate appearances.